AfterDarkStory publishes new fiction the way prestige television publishes new television. Every Thursday at 11 PM, a new episode lands in at least one of our five cities. Friday mornings bring the early-access crossovers for Region Pass and All Access readers. Cliffhangers are a feature, not a bug.
Our universe is made up of five interconnected fictional cities: Port Meridian, Steelbrook, Ravencrest, Desert Springs, and Crownbridge. Each has its own cast, its own tone, its own standalone seasons. Each is also quietly connected — a sister, a co-signer, a letter — and the crossovers are our readers' favourite thing to argue about.
The release schedule
Thursdays, 11 PM: New weekly episode, one city at a time on rotation. Your subscription determines which episodes you can read the night they drop.
Fridays: Season finales when applicable. Crossover episodes connecting two cities appear here.
Every quarter: A bonus short story — usually set between seasons, filling in a character's backstory that readers have been asking about.
How long is a "season"?
Twelve to fifteen episodes, depending on the city and the story we're telling. Seasons run eight to twelve weeks. Each city runs two seasons a year, staggered — so there is always something new to read.
How long is an "episode"?
Between 3,800 and 6,500 words. On average, about 18 minutes of reading. Long enough to feel like something. Short enough to read before you turn out the light.
Who writes the stories?
A small room of professional fiction writers, working under pen names chosen to fit each city. We are editors, showrunners, and plot architects. Our writers are paid well and credited on every story.
Mature content disclosure
AfterDarkStory is for adult readers. Our stories contain explicit sexual content, mature romantic themes, and situations involving consenting adults. We do not publish anything that would not be permitted on a mainstream prestige television platform; we do, however, write for grown-ups, and we do not look away. By subscribing you confirm you are at least 18 years of age (or the age of legal adulthood in your jurisdiction, whichever is higher) and that you consent to access this kind of material.
What we won't do
We won't sell your reading history. We won't auto-upgrade your plan. We won't make you call a phone number to cancel. We won't use dark patterns. If we're bad at something, tell us; we will fix it. [email protected].